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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEToE.l

C. LOGHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

'FOLDING LIFE-BOAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,184, dated January 2, 1855; Ressued September 16, 1856, No. 395.

To all whom z'l may concern.'

Be it known that I, C. LooHEn, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Life-Boats; and. I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of the framework of a boat constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2, is a plan of the same partly folded. Fig. 3, is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 4, is a top view of a portion of the frame illustrating the movements of the ribs in folding and unfolding. Fig. 5, is a view of one of the ribs detached from the frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to the construction of a folding frame to support and sustain a covering of sheet india rubber, india rubber fao cloth, or other waterproof material to form a boat. This frame is composed in part of a central frame and movable ribs hinged or pivoted thereto, but the above frame and ribs, having been used before do not of themselves constitute my invention, which consists in the application to the ribs and the central fronie of a chain or chains by which all the ribs are unfolded or spread at once and when extended are well stayed in proper position to keep the boat extended and in proper condition for service.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The central frame may be constructed of timber or meta-l, but I propose to construct it of strips 0f metal'plate, and have shown it so constructed. It is composed of two strips a, a, which form the keel, a strip b, forming the stem., another c, forming the stern post, two others cZ, d, uniting and bracing the upper parts of the stem b, and stern post c, upright pieces e, e, uniting the keel and the upper Astrips CZ, el, and diagonal braces f, f, uniting the upright pieces e, e, all being riveted together in the securest manner. The ribs g, g, may be of wood or metal, but I have shown them composed of light iron rod. They are pivoted or hinged at the bottom to the keel and at the top to the brace d, (Z, the top part being extended as shown at h, in Figs. 3 and 5 for the purpose of carrying the upper pivot, and at the same time forming a stay. Theribs, when the boat is folded lay over one another nearly close to the central frame as shown in the upper half of Fig. 2,'but when the boat is extended they stand nearly at right angles to the central frame. These ribs may fold in either directionk but preferably toward the stem as represented.

z', z', are two chains attached one to each side of the stem b, and connected to the upper parts of all the ribs on their respective sides. The ends j, y', of these chains are provided with suitable means of connection. Vhen the boat is folded up, the chains are disconnected. The boat is extended by pulling on the ends of the chains and thereby spreading all the ribs at once, after which the ends of the chains are passed round the stern post and secured together, and the ribs thereby firmly held in place. The chains when the boat is extended occupy the place of the gunwale of an ordinary boat.

If the ribs should be, arranged to fold toward the bow the chains -must be secured to the stern post instead of the stem asidescribed, but it is preferable to have the ribs fold toward the stem as then when Athe boat is in motion the pressure of the water tends to keep themv extended.

I do not claim hinging or pivoting the ribs to the keel or to a central frame so as to be folded or extended at pleasure; but

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Connecting the folding ribs by means of a chain or chains being applied substantially as described to spread all the ribs at once and when spread to serve the purpose of keeping all in place. Y

C. LOCIIER.

Witnesses:

SALEM H. WALES, I. G. MASON.

[FIRST PRINTED 1913.] 

